R U There, a film by director David Verbeek and scriptwriter Rogier de Blok, has been selected for the prestigious programme
Un Certain Regard at the next Cannes Film Festival (12-23 May). The festival announced this today at a press conference. The category
Un Certain Regard is part of the official competition of the festival, and focuses on films that are original and distinctive.
David Verbeek (29) graduated from the Amsterdam Film Academy in 2005. His first film,
Beat, which he produced himself, was selected by the IFFR, and his full-length feature
Shanghai Trance was selected for the Tiger Competition of the 2008 IFFR.
R U There was filmed in Taiwan, and features a young professional gamer, played by Stijn Koomen (
Tussenstand), who travels around the world to play in videogame competitions. The real world holds no appeal for him; he lives his life in virtual reality, where he is fully in control. When he witnesses a deadly accident in the street, his life is shaken up and he begins to doubt the certainties of his existence.
R U There is a film about the first global generation of youngsters whose lives are dominated by virtual reality. A film about the children of Google, YouTube and Second Life.
"
It is not easy for a Dutch film to be selected for this competition", says producer Frans van Gestel of IDTV Film. "
It has only happened twice before in the past ten years. In 2000, we had Jacky by Fow Pyng Hu, and last year Silent Army by Jean van de Velde was selected. We have worked with David since his first TV movie Yu Lan (2004). After the short film Melody Z and Shanghai Trance, this has now resulted in R U There. We are very proud that the quality of R U There, and David Verbeek's talents, have not remained unnoticed, and that our long collaboration has borne fruit in this film."
RU There was made in the context of the De Oversteek film project and was produced by IDTV Film and VPRO and co-produced by French production company Les Petites Lumières, with support from the Netherlands Film Fund.
R U There will be released in the Netherlands by the Eye Film Institute. International sales are the responsibility of the French-German company Films Boutique.
Website R U There
R U There, a film by director David Verbeek and scriptwriter Rogier de Blok, has been selected for the prestigious programme
Un Certain Regard at the next Cannes Film Festival (12-23 May). The festival announced this today at a press conference. The category
Un Certain Regard is part of the official competition of the festival, and focuses on films that are original and distinctive.
David Verbeek (29) graduated from the Amsterdam Film Academy in 2005. His first film,
Beat, which he produced himself, was selected by the IFFR, and his full-length feature
Shanghai Trance was selected for the Tiger Competition of the 2008 IFFR.
R U There was filmed in Taiwan, and features a young professional gamer, played by Stijn Koomen (
Tussenstand), who travels around the world to play in videogame competitions. The real world holds no appeal for him; he lives his life in virtual reality, where he is fully in control. When he witnesses a deadly accident in the street, his life is shaken up and he begins to doubt the certainties of his existence.
R U There is a film about the first global generation of youngsters whose lives are dominated by virtual reality. A film about the children of Google, YouTube and Second Life.
"
It is not easy for a Dutch film to be selected for this competition", says producer Frans van Gestel of IDTV Film. "
It has only happened twice before in the past ten years. In 2000, we had Jacky by Fow Pyng Hu, and last year Silent Army by Jean van de Velde was selected. We have worked with David since his first TV movie Yu Lan (2004). After the short film Melody Z and Shanghai Trance, this has now resulted in R U There. We are very proud that the quality of R U There, and David Verbeek's talents, have not remained unnoticed, and that our long collaboration has borne fruit in this film."
RU There was made in the context of the De Oversteek film project and was produced by IDTV Film and VPRO and co-produced by French production company Les Petites Lumières, with support from the Netherlands Film Fund.
R U There will be released in the Netherlands by the Eye Film Institute. International sales are the responsibility of the French-German company Films Boutique.
Website R U There